Sept.13, 2009 Middletown City Managers Report

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Taken from the September 13, 2009 city Managers Report

Nuisance Assessments

The Finance Department has submitted the 2009 nuisance assessments to
Butler and Warren Counties for placement on the property taxes.  The
totals are approx:

Noxious Weeds    $333,000
Litter                           78,000

In
comparison, last year’s billing were $133,593 for Butler County.  The
increase is more directly linked to our increase in enforcement and
abatement, but the downturn in the economy has not helped with blight. 
While this is capital upfront, it is well spent since we have made it a
priority to aggressively enhance our city image.

Staff requested
an additional $25,000 for nuisance abatement; I decreased the request
to $15,000, which was then appropriated by Council at a recent
meeting.  

At the current pace of complaints and expenditures
the additional funds will be exhausted in approximately 4-6 weeks.  Our
Chief Buidling Official did a great job of summarizing our 4 possible
scenarios regarding the continued program of abatement:

1.   
“Begin a policy of abating the nuisance complaints for curb appeal
only.  In other words, only the front and/or side of the properties
will be maintained.  This policy is currently being implemented.  From
the first day of implementation, complaints regarding our contractors
failing to “finish the job” have been coming in with some complainants
calling multiple times to express their frustrations.

2.   
Abatement of only the complaint driven nuisances. Currently, there are
a number of properties which are on an “Auto Recheck” list or if they
have been previously contracted, they will be contracted again without
the notification to the Property Owner/Tenant.  Cutting out these auto
rechecks and auto contracted properties may reduce the total number of
complaints contracted; however there are so many properties in the City
of Middletown that are vacant and/or considered abandoned for whom
there is no property owner to take responsibility this will mean a
great number of properties left unmaintained.

3.    Continue to
contract properties as before with no cut-back measures.  As previously
stated, the additional funds allotted will most likely be exhausted
within 4-6 weeks at our current level of contracting.  Once funds are
exhausted, additional requests for funds may be required or a cessation
of the program will be necessary.

4.    Stop the abatement of
nuisance complaints for city alleys.  As the summer comes to a close,
the tall grass and weeds at alleys have the potential to become a
safety hazard.

This year, Community Revitalization has stepped
up its nuisance compliance program.  Coupled with the ever greater
number of vacant and abandoned properties due to the economic downturn
the initial funds allotted for nuisance abatement was pushed beyond its
initial limit.  

This office has made every effort to
encourage property owners and tenants to abate these issues wherever
possible; again, given the economic climate, those efforts were not
always successful.  Despite the approach of fall, nuisance complaint
for trees, shrubs and tree limbs and trash will most likely continue to
make demands on our budget.”

We will do our best to balance the
complaints against the nuisance abatement budget.  We may have to
return to council for an additional appropriation.  Again, I believe
that a couple of hundred thousand dollars per year (if we collect only
a portion of the assessments from property taxes) is money well spent
as we spruce up the city. 

To read the complete City Managers Report click here Weekly Update To city Council From City Manager